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Jason Ravnsborg
Jason Ravnsborg (Republican Party) was the Attorney General of South Dakota. He assumed office on January 5, 2019. He left office on June 21, 2022.
Ravnsborg (Republican Party) ran for election for Attorney General of South Dakota. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.
On June 21, 2022, the South Dakota Senate impeached Ravnsborg for his actions related to a car accident that killed a pedestrian in September 2020.[1] He was impeached by the South Dakota House of Representatives on April 12, 2022. Ravnsborg was removed from office immediately following the Senate decision. Click here for more information.
Ravnsborg won the 2018 election with 55.2 percent of the vote. He succeeded Marty J. Jackley (R), who served as attorney general from 2009 to 2019, to become the state's 31st attorney general.
Ravnsborg was a 2014 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. Senate from South Dakota.[2] He lost the Republican nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014.[3]
Biography
Ravnsborg attended the University of South Dakota where he participated in the Army ROTC program and received a commission as a transportation officer. He earned a bachelor's, master's and law degree. As a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, Ravnsborg deployed to Germany in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in January 2003, to Kuwait and Iraq in July 2004, and to Afghanistan in 2009. He went on to serve as a major in a joint intelligence unit in Minneapolis.[4]
Political career
South Dakota Attorney General (2019-present)
Ravnsborg was elected attorney general of South Dakota on November 6, 2018. He assumed office on January 5, 2019.
Elections
2018
General election
General election for Attorney General of South Dakota
Jason Ravnsborg defeated Randy Seiler in the general election for Attorney General of South Dakota on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jason Ravnsborg (R) | 55.2 | 179,071 |
 | Randy Seiler (D) | 44.8 | 145,558 | |
| Total votes: 324,629 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Tatewin Means (D)
- John Fitzgerald (R)
Endorsements
- South Dakota Right to Life PAC
- NRA Political Victory Fund
2014
Ravnsborg ran in the 2014 election for the U.S. Senate, to represent South Dakota.[2] He lost the Republican nomination in the primary on June 3, 2014, to Mike Rounds.[3]
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Mike Rounds |
55.5% | 41,377 | ||
| Larry Rhoden | 18.2% | 13,593 | ||
| Stace Nelson | 17.7% | 13,179 | ||
| Annette Bosworth | 5.7% | 4,283 | ||
| Jason Ravnsborg | 2.8% | 2,066 | ||
| Total Votes | 74,498 | |||
| Source: South Dakota Secretary of State |
||||
Personal
Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.
Ravnsborg is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Church in Yankton, the Yankton Sertoma Club, the American Legion, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a life member of the National Rifle Association.[4]
Noteworthy events
Charged with three misdemeanors in fatal car crash (2021)
On the night of September 12, 2020, Ravnsborg fatally struck a pedestrian, 55-year-old Joseph Boever of Highmore, South Dakota, with his Ford Taurus. According to Ravnsborg, he immediately stopped his car to investigate, and called the Hyde County Sheriff's office to report the accident. The sheriff soon arrived on the scene, but neither he nor Ravnsborg were able to determine what Ravnsborg had hit. The sheriff provided him with a vehicle to return home.[5]
Ravnsborg said in a statement that it was not until the following morning, when he and his chief of staff were returning the borrowed car, that they stopped to investigate the scene again and found Boever's body in a ditch.[6] Toxicology reports showed that Ravnsborg was not under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of the incident. An investigation led by the South Dakota Highway Patrol found that Ravnsborg was distracted at the time of the crash, and that his car left the road before it struck the victim.[7]
On February 18, 2021, Ravnsborg was charged with three misdemeanors, including careless driving, operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile electronic device, and driving out of a lane.[8] He pleaded not guilty in an initial court hearing, and his trial was set for August 26, 2021.[9][10] Prior to the trial, Ravnsborg agreed to a plea deal. On August 26, 2021, he pleaded no contest to two charges while the third charge—careless driving—was dropped.[11][12]
Several South Dakota politicians voiced their preference for Ravnsborg to resign or be removed. Rep. Will Mortenson (R) introduced two articles of impeachment against the attorney general, and Gov. Kristi Noem (R) called for Ravnsborg's resignation following the announcement of the charges.[13][14]
The House Committee on Impeachment voted 6-2 to recommend not impeaching Ravnsborg on March 28, 2022.[15]
On April 12, 2022, the South Dakota House of Representatives voted 36-31 to approve House Resolution 7002 (HR 7002) which states, "A RESOLUTION, Providing for the impeachment of Jason Ravnsborg, Attorney General of the State of South Dakota, for certain crimes and for malfeasance in office."[16] Twenty-eight Republicans and eight Democrats voted in favor of the resolution and 31 Republicans voted against it.[17]
According to Joe Sneve of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Ravnsborg is the first official ever impeached in South Dakota and was required to take a leave of absence as attorney general until his trial in the Senate. [18]
On June 21, 2022, the South Dakota Senate impeached Ravnsborg. He was removed from office immediately following the Senate decision.[1]
See also
| South Dakota | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
|---|---|---|
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|
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- Attorney General of South Dakota
- South Dakota Attorney General election, 2018
- United States Senate
- United States Senate elections in South Dakota, 2014
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 AP News, "South Dakota AG convicted on 2 impeachment charges, removed" June, 21, 2022
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 South Dakota Board of Elections, "Current Candidates for Primary Election," accessed March 27, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Associated Press, "South Dakota - Summary Vote Results," June 3, 2014
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Jason for South Dakota, "About," accessed May 28, 2014
- ↑ The Washington Post, "South Dakota’s attorney general said he thought he hit a deer. The next day, he found a dead man’s body in a ditch.," September 15, 2020
- ↑ Office of Attorney General Jason R. Ravnsborg, "Statement, September 15, 2020
- ↑ The Argus Leader, "Report: Attorney General was distracted when he struck, killed pedestrian," November 2, 2020
- ↑ Associated Press, "South Dakota's AG charged with 3 misdemeanors in fatal crash," February 18, 2021
- ↑ NBC News, "South Dakota AG Jason Ravnsborg pleads not guilty in fatal crash," March 12, 2021
- ↑ Casper Star Tribune, "Trial date set for South Dakota attorney general in fatal crash," May 26, 2021
- ↑ The New York Times, "South Dakota Attorney General Avoids Jail Time for Fatal Crash," August 25, 2021
- ↑ Argus Leader, "Judge finds Ravnsborg guilty on two charges; family of victim 'not satisfied'," August 25, 2021
- ↑ KELO, "Gov. Noem calls for Ravnsborg to resign," February 23, 2021
- ↑ Rapid City Journal, "Impeachment articles filed against Attorney General Ravnsborg," February 23, 2021
- ↑ South Dakota War College, "House Committee says NO to impeachment 6-2," March 28, 2022
- ↑ Keloland.com, "IMPEACHED: House votes 36-31 to impeach Ravnsborg," April 12, 2022
- ↑ South Dakota Legislature, "Journal of the House of Representatives — 2021 Second Special Session, April 12, 2022," April 12, 2022
- ↑ Argus Leader, "South Dakota House votes to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, 36-31," April 12, 2022
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Marty J. Jackley (R) |
Attorney General of South Dakota 2019-2022 |
Succeeded by Mark Vargo (R) |
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